fantasy_fiction_and_fae's reviews
477 reviews

The Hidden by Kiersten Modglin

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Perfect Fit by Sadie Kincaid

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Cursing and Blood

Minor: Child abuse and Physical abuse

The Hunting Moon by Susan Dennard

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Jumping from a waterfall to escape imminent danger and being bitten by a werewolf, Winnie Wednesday is like a cat with nine lives. Or do the dark creatures in the forest aid her when needed? The latter seems to be the case. The local hunters in training treat it as if it were the coolest thing and not a nightmare she wants to forget. It seems the only people who understand are her ex-best friend Jay and the friend she tried to save the night of their 3rd and final trial. 

Book 2 in this trilogy uncovers more about the whispers that seem to only come around when she is in the woods.  Her father has hidden some clues about what happened before he was driven out of town away from her and her mother. As Winn gets closer to finding out who set her father up, she and Jay run into more issues that they must work together to resolve. They also have to fix the previous 4 years when Jay appeared to abandon her when she needed him most. 

I’m enjoying this series, but I wish it was a little longer to explain how this magical world works and the characters' roles in managing the town and their lives. I just feel like some things are missing that could have had more backstory to make them fall into place, as well as what people do now in this urban world of paranormal creatures. 

Perhaps the physical books have more information, such as a family tree and maps, that you don’t get listening to the audiobook. Regardless, I still enjoyed the story, and nothing made me want to stop listening to it. 

Book 3, The Whispering Night, is set to release on 11/19/24, and I will be reading the ARC prior to release for the conclusion of this series.  

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

 

Hemlock Falls isn't like other towns. You won't find it on a map, your phone won't work here, and the forest outside town is filled with monsters.

Winnie Wednesday isn't a typical 16-year-old. Rather than celebrating a milestone birthday to celebrate, she enters the trials to become a Luminary. It's an ancient order that protects everyone from the monsters. Her family were born hunters and became Luminaries and Winnie grew up studying the deadly creatures logged in hunters compendium. Kelpies, werewolves, banshees, vampyres, manticores, willow wisps, basilisks, and more prowl the grounds and will not hesitate to kill you. 

 

After her family is shunned by her father being exposed as a traitor, the only thing Winnie can think to do to restore her family's reputation, be accepted by the rest of the town, and prove her worth, she enters the Luminary trials now that she is of age. She will do one of two things, pass the trials and become a respected hunter like her aunt, or die trying.

Winnie lacks the necessary skills and needs training fast.  She asks Jay Friday, the local bad boy that all the girls fawn over, and Winnie’s ex-best friend. He is the most promising new hunter in Hemlock Falls, skilled and knowledgeable about the nightmares of the forest and where to go to be safe. She needs all the help she can get, so she swallows her pride and asks him to train her for the trials. He's not the same boy she grew up with. He's changed physically and mentally. No longer the hyper kid she knew, now he is steady, watchful, serious, and dangerous. She needs him to help show her how to make it through the trials in the forest and make it out alive. Winnie discovers a new danger lurking in the forest that no one in Hemlock Falls is prepared for, and people won't listen to her when she makes them aware. It's up to her to learn what she can to stay alive and Jay is more than willing to help her. 

The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott is descriptive fantasy story with dark academia, forbidden romance, set in a contemporary world. It’s filled with supernatural creatures, ancient lore, and magic following two people who should be enemies but are drawn to each other like a moth to a flame. Together they slowly Discover truths hidden for centuries and with friends and family they uncover more than they ever imagined. 

As in most books that have world building, it starts off slow and peels back layers of the plot. I look forward to finding out where the story leads in the next book and how this hidden truth unfolds and how it affects the bonds. Does true love conquer all? Time will tell. 

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Wicked accounts of love, loss, physical and emotional war against and among people once cherished. A slow and steady tale of a man’s journey to avenge all he lost through blood, sweat, tears, and promises broken. 

The Butcher Game by Alaina Urquhart

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Jeramy continues his murderous ways and Wren is having horrible nightmares about him knowing he is still out there. He’s hunting and trying to bait her to him so he can finish the job he meant to complete when Wren was supposed to die. He’s twisted, heartless, and sick in the head. Wren needs to find him and stop him before he kills more innocent women. 

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

When a necromancer is drawn to an irresistible phantom, it’s a race against time to find her sister and win the game.  A violent and gruesome feat mixed with spicy temptations that the FMC cannot escape. 

Worth It by C.M. Owens, S.M. Shade

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book was so much fun. I was cracking up all day listening to it. I could imagine this as a rom-com movie 🍿 it was silly, spicy and a little sad. It was a good time. 

The Gathering by C.J. Tudor

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It was fine